Senate Votes to Double Fines, Jail Time for Pot Brownies

Feinstein’s was one of the first bills introduced in the Senate in 2009, and sat idle after it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is, until California’s Prop 19 to legalize marijuana started gaining momentum in the spring.

Dianne Feinstein is one of the most vocal opponents to Prop 19. Thought she’s not up for reelection, like other Democratic opponents of legalization in California, Feinstein not only opposes Prop 19, but is actively supporting the campaign to defeat the initiative. In order to help the cause of marijuana prohibitionists, she started to move her anti-pot brownie bill.

14 votes

#1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:46 PM EDT

Dianne Feinstein is one of the most vocal opponents to Prop 19. Thought she’s not up for reelection, like other Democratic opponents of legalization in California, Feinstein not only opposes Prop 19, but is actively supporting the campaign to defeat the initiative. In order to help the cause of marijuana prohibitionists, she started to move her anti-pot brownie bill.

I am not too familiar with California politics, but isn't she supposedly a "progressive"?

11 votes

#1.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:53 PM EDT

McSpocky

Normally, she's a progressive. She must have eaten one too many brownies.

32 votes

#1.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:58 PM EDT

Normally, she's a progressive. She must have eaten one too many brownies.

LOL.

Sometimes politicians will have unusual views on one or two particular issues-- views that go against their general, overall political philosophy-- for one reason or another. Usually because of some group in their district.

But I'm surprised at this-- if I remember, legalizing marijuana is pretty popular in California.

10 votes

#1.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:52 PM EDT

GaryColumbus

I vote the Senate and every last public official who doesn't want to legalize marijuana can kiss my brown eye blue.

11 votes

#1.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:57 PM EDT

MartinEZ

Let me get this straight... After easing up on penalties for crack cocaine versus it's powered alternative, they pass a measure to increase penalties for pot brownies over the standard ganja? This country is @!$%#ed.

28 votes

#1.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:16 PM EDT

Zoolopolis

I've never liked Feinstein. She made several votes that put me off her during the last Bush admin.

7 votes

#1.6 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

hey man, i suddenly want a big cold glass of milk. (this is how stupid this whole thing seems to me at this point in time)

6 votes

#1.7 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:27 PM EDT

Kate In Greensboro

My only thought, upon reading the headline, was

glad there's nothing important they could be doing.

Too stupid for words.

21 votes

#1.8 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:55 PM EDT

Auteur 1536

This country is @!$%#ed.

That's America for you.

7 votes

#1.9 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:01 PM EDT

This country is @!$%#ed.

That's America for you.

Other countries have drug problems as well-- not quite as bad as our problems with the government wanting to outlaw pot brownies, perhaps-- but still a problem:

Iran has 130,000 new drug addicts each year
More than 3,700 Iranian security personnel have been killed fighting drug smugglers since Iran's 1979 revolution. Drug trafficking is punishable by death in the Islamic state.

Russia:

Russian health policies are failing to adequately treat drug addiction, compounding the country’s serious illicit drug use and drug dependence problem and further putting drug users at increased risk for other serious diseases, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

4 votes

#1.10 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:18 PM EDT

Zenkarma

Normally, she's a progressive. She must have eaten one too many brownies.

- yeah paranoia set in ;) disappointing so disappointing LEGALIZE AND TAX IT ALREADY

11 votes

#1.11 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:19 PM EDT

Lola-984242

Last night the United States Senate voted to double the penalties for the nation's newest existential threat: brownies made with marijuana!

Newest? Where the he!! have they been?

5 votes

#1.12 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:29 PM EDT

Ben-1268009

Are you serious?!? This is ridiculous. Double the fines, sure... fine... go ahead... but doubling the prison terms?? We are already having to let out violent offenders to make room for these pot heads that haven't hurt anyone... this is just going to make that problem worse.

Congress/Senate - Creating problems so that they have something to fix since 1945.

9 votes

#1.13 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:48 PM EDT

I've been telling people till I'm blue in the face that pot isn't a liberal/conservative issue. Some of the most conservative people, like the late William F. Buckley, supported legalization. Many so-called progressives do not. You cannot trust politicians from either party; they only care about themselves.

9 votes

#1.14 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:58 PM EDT

Texasrodeoqueen

Welcome to the Land Of the Free, Where People Watch Us Pee

Soon, here in the Land Of the Free, we will be subject to roadside cavity searches

7 votes

#1.15 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:54 PM EDT

she used to be a progressive, but not for a long long long time now.

2 votes

#1.16 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:59 PM EDT

I am not too familiar with California politics, but isn't she supposedly a "progressive"?

Gonna have to do some deeper research. I'd be willing to bet that there is something else on her agenda. Doesn't make it any less stupid of a law, but it can't be as black and white as this.

4 votes

#1.17 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:59 PM EDT

This country is @!$%#ed.

I understand your frustration. But i think we are going to be alright.

3 votes

#1.18 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:01 PM EDT

oneforall

No doubt about it, Dianne Feinstein is one of those nanny state Democrats, who is willing sacrifice civil liberties in a futile attempt to regulate human behavior. This is where the Democrats always lose their grip on constitutional government and where they wander into the abyss of totalitarianism. But to win a unanimous vote from this lumbering senate chamber, when Democrats can't win a vote on the nation's most pressing issues, illustrates what a total mockery our political system has become. It's just hard to believe that of all of the legislation which is needed, this is what senators think is important.

6 votes

#1.19 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:15 PM EDT

No doubt about it, Dianne Feinstein is one of those nanny state Democrats,

well between this and the repuplican peeping tom cops, it seems as if all the pols care about is sex and drugs--other people's sex and drugs. I wish they would all buzz off and let consenting adults live their own sex lives and practice their own pleasures. Geesh.Do something about health care, or the wars, or the economy and leave us alone on our personal lives.

3 votes

#1.20 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:26 PM EDT

Do something about health care, or the wars, or the economy and leave us alone on our personal lives.

But that would require actual competence.

3 votes

#1.21 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:31 PM EDT

Buckeye Voter

Pot brownies encourage cooking skills. And smoking is bad for you. What are they thinking?

5 votes

#1.22 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:31 PM EDT

lib50

Time to send Dianne an email. Usually I agree with her, but not this time.

#1.23 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:36 PM EDT

CMlawyer

Now you guys made me hungry. Some nice brownies. Yum. Can't we just legalize the stuff and enjoy life and brownies again?

2 votes

#1.24 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:58 PM EDT

lockfashionDeleted

space guy

if it passes that chamber, anyone making pot brownies or similar products could be subject to double the fines and jail time for regular marijuana.

and what happens when it is legalized in ca in a few months?

3 votes

#1.26 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:38 PM EDT

I can't stand this hag.

Pot brownies? Seriously? She is a vocal opponent of Prop 19 (witch as a U.S. Senator she has no business doing) She's voted for nearly every constitution shredding Bush proposal. She's the worst.

She needs to go away with her billionaire hubby and start slamming the Ensure.

4 votes

#1.27 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:47 AM EDT

space guy

She needs to go away with her billionaire hubby and start slamming the Ensure.

Vote them out in November.

2 votes

#1.28 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:14 AM EDT

jacksbDeleted

Space-

She's not up for re-election this year.

#1.30 - Sun Aug 1, 2010 11:45 AM EDT

space guy

She's not up for re-election this year.

Yea, I know, but there are a lot that are, including Boxer.

1 vote

#1.31 - Mon Aug 2, 2010 11:43 AM EDT

So Boxer should be voted out because of Feinstein's stand on marijuana? That makes no sense to me.

3 votes

#1.32 - Mon Aug 2, 2010 1:52 PM EDT

I've been telling people till I'm blue in the face that pot isn't a liberal/conservative issue.

Maybe.

The definition of 'conservative" has gotten confusing due to the emergence of the "neo-cons" -- who in many ways are the oppsoite of traditional conservatives.

Before the emergence of the neo-cons, traditional conservatives wanted less government. Liberals traditionally feel that government should be more active in solving social problems, traditional Conservatives feel the government should have less of a role in solving social problems and that things should be left more to individuals (for example: liberals feel government should do more about poverty-- traditional conservatives feel they should do less-- and individuals should do more charity-- but should not be made to do so by government).

I'm not defending either approach here-- merely pointing out that liberals traditionally tend to want the government to be more "activist"-- conservatives want it to be less so. There are pros and cons to both points of view...

3 votes

#1.33 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 1:39 PM EDT

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s258/show

Let me put that another way, so as to bypass the whole debate about definitions. Marijuana isn't a PARTISAN issue. On the whole, both Democrats and Republicans lack the guts to even discuss it rationally. It's just (knee jerk) DRUGS, which everyone knows are EVIL. By some magic, alcohol is not a "drug" even though it gets you more wasted than any other drug. And if you question any of this, you must be the spawn of Satan, out to destroy our youth.

4 votes

#1.34 - Thu Aug 5, 2010 3:29 AM EDT

chick76

Wow! Don't these idiots know the jails are already overcrowded. Are pot brownies really worth the effort? It's especially pathetic if they start picking on sick people just trying to feel better.

26 votes

#2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:04 PM EDT

McSpocky

Yes, the U.S. has more people incarcerated per capita than any other country in the world. And we want to add more, especially for a stupid reason like this?

25 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:36 PM EDT

Auteur 1536

Don't these idiots know the jails are already overcrowded.

So overcrowded there's almost no room for the real criminals.

12 votes

#2.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:02 PM EDT

Tina-293371

If they decriminalized, not even legalized, marijuana, our jails would suddenly have plenty of room for REAL criminals.

Ignorant bastards.

13 votes

#2.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:38 PM EDT

Teodoro Leon 3

This is a good source for doing many different things...user friendly,sending letters to...reviews,status...

Co-sponsors:

Sen. Evan Bayh [D, IN]

Sen. Charles Grassley [R, IA]

Here's a hint....Leary VS US 1967

http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/history/e1960/learyvus.htm

Petitioner was indicted under 26 U. S. C. § 4744 (a)(2), a subsection of the Marihuana Tax Act, and under 21 U. S. C. § 176a.

The legislative history also strongly indicates that the Act was intended merely to impose a very high tax on transfers to nonregistrants and not to prohibit such transfers entirely. As a taxing measure, the bill of course originated in the House of Representatives. At the start of the first hearing on the bill, before the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee chairman announced that he had introduced the bill at the request of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Nor are we persuaded by the Government's argument that its construction has been followed by the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Narcotics ever since the passage of the Act, and that this "long-standing" interpretation by the agencies charged with administering the Act should be controlling.

2 votes

#2.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:52 PM EDT

James Andre

the jails are already overcrowded

It's not just that. Modern baked goods made with cannabis are often indistinguishable from ordinary baked goods. There's really no way to tell without expensive testing, an additional burden on law enforcement.

Forget about the murderers, wife beaters, and child molesters; let's get the brownie makers!

I just can't help feeling there is something very wrong with a society that regularly gives more prison time to people for growing a plant than for killing or rape.

4 votes

#2.5 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:23 AM EDT

Yer doin' a heck of a job brownies!!!

2 votes

#2.6 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:49 AM EDT

2.5: I just can't help feeling there is something very wrong with a society that regularly gives more prison time to people for growing a plant than for killing or rape.

Well said. Think how much more our police forces could accomplish in combating violent crime if they weren't the morals police? Making drugs illegal creates more crime than it stops, so why do people think more laws banning drugs will change that reality?

If we decriminalize prostitution and legalize/regulate drugs, our crime rate would drop significantly and our cops could focus on making our citizens safer by focusing on finding serial rapists, etc.

5 votes

#2.7 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:11 AM EDT

Teodoro Leon 3

BTW, Leary won the case in SCOTUS.

2 votes

#2.8 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:08 PM EDT

Dave 49

The Government has a problem with Brownies....Not browning GUN'S Though

10 votes

#3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:37 PM EDT

Projecting Much?

The Government has a problem with Brownies....Not browning GUN'S Though

Kindly point out the Constitutional Amendment granting the right to keep and bear brownies.

4 votes

#3.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:10 PM EDT

life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Not to mention not living with terrible pain and pursuit of relief from chemo nausea.

Kindly point out the Constitutional Amendment granting the right to keep and bear brownies

16 votes

#3.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:14 PM EDT

Uthaclena

Projecting Much?

Kindly point out the Constitutional Amendment granting the right to keep and bear brownies.

Uh, yeah, it's... right... no, not that one, it's, um... whu'?

1 vote

#3.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:43 PM EDT

Ben-1268009

It's covered under pursuit of happiness I think... lol

5 votes

#3.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:56 PM EDT

Projecting Much?

Hey, just to be clear I am all for the legalization of marijuana, just couldn't resist the opportunity to make a smart ass comment... ;-)

2 votes

#3.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:49 PM EDT

Yosho

It's covered under pursuit of happiness I think... lol

I'd think so, too. I thought Constitutional rights were supposed to be allowed unless they infringed on anothers' rights, and not with a guarantee of protection from harm caused to yourself by your own actions.

You have the right to bear arms, but that doesn't mean you can cross the line into shooting someone without just cause and does not guarantee that doing something stupid with that gun.

You have the right to live on a diet entirely made up of McDonald's value meals, but that doesn't mean you can force anyone else to follow suit or are to be completely free of the consequences such a diet would have on your health.

I'd think that marijuana brownies would be the same thing, even for recreational use ( sorry, I don't buy the "peddling to kids" BS ). You should be able to as much as you're allowed to drink alcohol legally, though you should be held accountable for any actions you take under the influence and and tough luck as far as any negative health impact it might have ( which, to be honest, I've never heard of being as bad as, let alone worse than, the tobacco and alcohol we still legally allow, when you don't count the usual prohobition-slanted fearmongers ).

3 votes

#3.6 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:01 PM EDT

Brownies are a happiness worth pursuing.

2 votes

#3.7 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:52 AM EDT

blazera

Oh no, everyone knows only kids like brownies! Adults only eat bran and brussel sprouts.

NO FUN ALLOWED

12 votes

#4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:38 PM EDT

http://sunleafmedical.com/

I buy my edibles at my dispensary...they have brownies breakfast bars, hard candy, muffins, budder, infused olive oil....etc, etc etc.

It's not that hard to get your medical authorization......I can have 24 ounces and 15 plants.....legally

Pot smokers just need to get the hell out of the fascist red states they live in and go where it's legal....some places will never legalize...SC, TEXAS, Mississippi...etc.

http://medicalmarijuanaseattle.com/

Momma Stacy's MedEdibles

We have chocolate cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies; Reeses puff crispy treats, oatmeal raisin cookies, rice crispy treats, peanut butter fudge, chocolate fudge, sugarless jolly rancher style hard candy, and "pollen" brownies in stock.

6 votes

#5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

It's still illegal at the federal level, so it doesn't really matter what state you live in. Obama might have relaxed enforcement but the law is still there and the next president might have a different take on it.

1 vote

#5.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:00 PM EDT

I smoked through W, Clinton, and Bush 1........even before I had a permit.....if the DEA want's to waste it's time on weed...go ahead.....

Seattle(read up on I-75)/King County/WA State...could give 2 @!$%#s about it.......I could really care less about what the feds think......if we get a right wing fascist president that prosecutes pot users......welll he's got about 50% of King County to lock up.

3 votes

#5.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:09 PM EDT

I've read that (or something similar) before. Isn't it also almost completely decriminalized in Portland as well?

#5.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:15 PM EDT

I go to Portland fairly regularly....I've never been hassled (for pot anyway).

Oregon also has Medical Marijuana...I'm not sure what their laws are as in how much you can possess, growing your own and available through dispensaries.

California is about to legalize totally. Montana is also pretty slack....they will accept MMj patients from other states....They are the only state to do that.

The whole thing is silly if you ask me....alcohol and tobacco kills more people than ALL other drugs combined

Tobacco
435,000¹

Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity
365,000¹

Alcohol
85,000 ¹

Microbial Agents
75,000¹

Toxic Agents
55,000¹

Motor Vehicle Crashes
26,347¹

Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs
32,000²

Suicide
30,622³

Incidents Involving Firearms
29,000¹

Homicide
20,308⁴

Sexual Behaviors
20,000¹

All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect
17,000^{1, 5}

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin
7,600⁶

Marijuana
0⁷

7 votes

#5.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:49 PM EDT

haha. To the seventh (nice touch)

No argument here, i'm a regular smoker myself. It's not too bad in NC. Misdemeanor ticket if it's less than an OZ.

3 votes

#5.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:54 PM EDT

The whole thing is silly if you ask me....alcohol and tobacco kills more people than ALL other drugs combined

Do you think they should be made illegal?

2 votes

#5.6 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 1:42 PM EDT

Concerned Citizen-1303521

Not at all....

I think it strange that the drugs that make you belligerent, angry and unhealthy are legal.

But the drug that might open peoples minds a little and let them see how bad we are getting @!$%#ed on a daily basis is illegal.

6 votes

#5.7 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 2:07 PM EDT

s.heraclitus

But the drug that might open peoples minds a little and let them see how bad we are getting @!$%#ed on a daily basis is illegal.

And why would a Government like ours want people to see how badly our Government is @!$%#ing Us? You have touched the real reason Pot is still illegal, and probably always will be. The Government doesn't want an informed, enlightened citizenry. Dumb, malleable sheeple are much easier to govern than smart, independent people.

4 votes

#5.8 - Wed Aug 4, 2010 7:12 AM EDT

Tom88

what is funny is that they seem to send the message that drugs make you dumb, malleable sheep.

2 votes

#5.9 - Thu Aug 5, 2010 9:10 PM EDT

s.heraclitus

The only drugs that will accomplish that at the ones with FDA approval... Just one more thing from our government that makes ya go 'huh?'.

3 votes

#5.10 - Sat Aug 7, 2010 1:33 PM EDT

bonos_rama

Why is this country so very determined to throw its youth into jail? Otherwise productive citizens imprisoned for years at a time does nothing to help us. Nobody - NOBODY - is harmed by a bunch of kids eating hash brownies. Period. We have to stop emulating the Soviet Union and taking away rights and imprisoning all of our citizens.

12 votes

#6 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

Why is this country so very determined to throw its youth into jail?

$$$$

We have a private prison industry. The crimes of this industry are immensely more heinous than the perceived crimes of those they seek to incarcerate. Here in my state (PA), our private prison industry bribed judges to sentence youths to serve jail time.

19 votes

#6.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:53 PM EDT

Kate In Greensboro

$$$$

We have a private prison industry.

Bingo!

12 votes

#6.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:57 PM EDT

http://www.thenation.com/article/37828/bp-hires-prison-labor-clean-spill-while-coastal-residents-struggle

Even our government prisons are run for profit with slave labor.

Idaho Observer: The corporation prefers prison slave labor

say the attorneys of private corporations and the corporate state as the judge ... One of the most alarming trends in America is the growth of the prison labor industry. ... has the contract to sell city, county, state and federal prisoner bonds. .... We could offer prison inmate labor right here in Oregon." ...

10 votes

#6.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:01 PM EDT

Kate In Greensboro

BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle

6 votes

#6.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:10 PM EDT

From that article:

Captain Zeringue says that inmates are glad for any opportunity they can get, and see work release jobs as a step up, a headstart on re-entry. "Our work release inmates are shipped to centers around the state according to employer demand," he explains, describing the different types of skilled and unskilled labor. "I have carpenters, guys riding on the back of the trash trucks, guys working offshore on the oil rigs, doing welding, cooking. Employers like them because they are guaranteed a worker who's on time, drug-free, and sober."

So these companies love prison slaves because of all these fine qualities, but when the inmates are released, the same companies won't hire them because they are low-lifes that can't be trusted? Yeah, right.

13 votes

#6.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:50 PM EDT

Slinger-958418

So they are going to try to take away my brownies? Good thing I have a secret recipe handed down to me from my mother. Psst? Anyone want a copy??

4 votes

#6.6 - Sun Aug 1, 2010 1:50 PM EDT

Door King

Here's what the bill actually does:

Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful for any adult (at least 18 years of age) to knowingly and intentionally manufacture, create, distribute, or dispense, or to possess with such intent, a Schedule I or II controlled substance that is: (1) combined with a candy product; (2) marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy product; or (3) modified by flavoring or coloring with the intent to distribute, dispense, or sell it to a person under 21 years of age. Imposes enhanced criminal penalties for violations. Exempts any controlled substance that has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the drug approval process or that has been altered at the direction of a medical practitioner for a legitimate medical purpose.

2 votes

#7 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:01 PM EDT

OMG how lame can they possibly get? A new freaking low.Legalize all of it now and just put and age limit on it. Can't we have our government deal with things like the war(s) and the economy (lack of it) immigration, the oil spill, health care????? @!$%# em all. We need a revolution here.

11 votes

#7.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:08 PM EDT

Door King

Also good for those who market LSD hits to kids; you know the kind. Blotter acid decorated with ducks and crap. As usually this seeder has an ax to grind.

2 votes

#7.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:17 PM EDT

Concerned Citizen-1303521

not every person even wants to take any of the drugs legal or not. Some people do. Even LSD wears off. Alcohol is legal. There are lots of things that are legal that have the potential to hurt people. You have to use common sense, which is really impossible in an underground economy. Cars for instance kill tons of people when used wrongly.

7 votes

#7.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

Well the issue would come down to who decides 'intent'?

Is making a brownie intent in and of itself just like having more than a certain amount of the plant is intent to sell? Or does the court need to prove that you intend to sell/give it to kids

3 votes

#7.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

Door King

If you have food coloring in your house you'll be charged with making pot brownies for kids; that's just the way the cops operate. I've seen people charged with paraphrenalia for having baggies in the kitchen drawer.

2 votes

#7.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:36 PM EDT

oneforall

Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful for any adult (at least 18 years of age) to knowingly and intentionally manufacture, create, distribute, or dispense, or to possess with such intent, a Schedule I or II controlled substance

The real kicker here is that marijuana doesn't even meet the technical definition of a Schedule I or II drug. So, because it is miscategorized under a completely arbitrary schedule of dangerous drugs, a violation carries heavier penalties than if it were properly categorized. In effect, millions have been jailed because of a clerical error.

2 votes

#7.6 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:37 PM EDT

Yosho

Also good for those who market LSD hits to kids; you know the kind. Blotter acid decorated with ducks and crap.

Yeah, I remember that urban legend.

I've seen people charged with paraphrenalia for having baggies in the kitchen drawer.

I don't doubt it. And in this case, we have a nitwit taking advantage of other nitwits who are so clueless as to think that "special brownies" are meant for kids ( and ignorant of the fact that "candy flavoring" for meth would be useless for something that's smoked, from every bit of footage I've ever seen of meth users).

1 vote

#7.7 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:22 PM EDT

i thought people snorted or shot up meth, but what do I know?

1 vote

#7.8 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:55 PM EDT

The real kicker here is that marijuana doesn't even meet the technical definition of a Schedule I or II drug. So, because it is miscategorized under a completely arbitrary schedule of dangerous drugs, a violation carries heavier penalties than if it were properly categorized. In effect, millions have been jailed because of a clerical error.

Actually, while it doesn't affect all that many people-- there's another crazy law on the books: its illegal to grow Hemp-- which has many non-drug uses: rope, Hemp garments & other Hemp products (you can buy them at some Whole Foods)-- some people use Hemp Protein powder instead of Why Protein.

Wait a minute-- how can Whole Foods sell Hemp products if its illegal to grow it?

Well-- because its not illegal to possess non-THC Hemp. Its illegal to grow any variety of Hemp-- but that without THC in it can be possessed legally.

What does this mean? Americans can't grow it, but can import Hemp products (most come from Canada). So all this stupid law accomplishes is that it deprives American farmers a lucrative source of income. (its cheap and easy to grow-- a good income earner). Plus it makes Hemp products more expensive for Americans because we have ot import them-- or at least the Hemp must be imported.

4 votes

#7.9 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 1:52 PM EDT

The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this."

- Albert Einstein quote on Hemp

"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."

- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President quote on Hemp

"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere."

- George Washington, U.S. President quote on Hemp

The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world."

- Carl Sagan quote on Marijuana

"When you return to this mundane sphere from your visionary world, you would seem to leave a Neapolitan spring for a Lapland winter - to quit paradise for earth - heaven for hell! Taste the hashish, guest of mine - taste the hashish!"

Alexander Dumas quote on Marijuana

"Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?"

- Henry Ford quote on Marijuana

"We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption."

- John Adams, U.S. President quote on Hemp

and my favorite....

"La cucaracha, la cucaracha, Ya no quieres caminar, Porque no tienes,
Porque le falta, Marihuana que fumar."

- Pancho Villa quote on Marijuana

4 votes

#7.10 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 2:12 PM EDT

Actually, while it doesn't affect all that many people-- there's another crazy law on the books: its illegal to grow Hemp

It affects all of us. Our forests are being decimated because we can't grow hemp. Hemp plywood is stronger than wood plywood, but we continue to destroy our forests rather than use hemp which is easily renewable. That's just one way that we're all affected. There are many, many others.

5 votes

#7.11 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 2:49 PM EDT

Lola-984242

Do you guys know it'll be Hempfest in Seattle Aug. 21-22? I'll be there, although I don't smoke it, I do enjoy the atmosphere, and they always have the best munchies, lol.

4 votes

#7.12 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 6:34 PM EDT

I'll be there... I always go.....

4 votes

#7.13 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 7:47 PM EDT

Lola-984242

We'll be there saturday since we're flying up from Texas, but I'll look for ya. Will you be on the left and mad?

3 votes

#7.14 - Tue Aug 3, 2010 8:09 PM EDT

- Carl Sagan quote on Marijuana

"When you return to this mundane sphere from your visionary world, you would seem to leave a Neapolitan spring for a Lapland winter - to quit paradise for earth - heaven for hell! Taste the hashish, guest of mine - taste the hashish!"

Must have been some kick-ass hash. All it ever did for me was make me relaxed, happy, easily amused, generous, and hungry.

1 vote

#7.15 - Thu Aug 5, 2010 3:33 AM EDT

mon glas

Hilarious! Put the sack chasers making brownies in jail, double the fines, and let the AR-15 toting, murdering, drug cartels own the southern border. Priorites here!

And parent's teach your kids, not to do drugs!

4 votes

#8 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:26 PM EDT

Tom88

And parent's teach your kids, not to do drugs!

what and tell them to drink instead? Oh no ,wait, we are suppossed to insist they be teetolers now. Sweet.

2 votes

#8.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:31 PM EDT

going up

Someone needs to slip her a loaded brownie! I think she's just uptight. ;o)

7 votes

#9 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:47 PM EDT

El Kabong!

C'mon, she's doing it for the kids! (sniff) Imagine how the little tykes would freak out being high and watching Spongebob, or being wasted off their little keesters trying to play a video game.

I heard that the rolling paper and waterpipe lobby pressed hard for this legislation, Is she in their pocket?

Thank you, Senator for addressing this pressing issue! Forget about the border, the economy, the oil spill in the gulf, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is far more important! Write or call your Senator today and tell them that a vote against S. 258 is a vote for our next generation of stoners!

5 votes

#10 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:05 PM EDT

Kathleen McKenzie

Diane, Diane, Diane, don't you have anything more pressing to worry about in the Senate? The country's coming apart and you're worried about brownies. Here, have one! It might make you feel better.

I'm not voting for you again. And I'll be sending an email to your office, you betcha!

3 votes

#11 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:08 PM EDT

robertlyn-schultz

Hey Loretta,

Thanks for finding this'un, about my senator...

Diane is such a cold hearted Beeotch! @!$%# Her in a very uncomfortable place with a Wire Brush!!

OK I guess that covers my take on her performance.

Have a good'un,

Aloha

3 votes

#12 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:17 PM EDT

Stevie-445471

Hey you got to admit Congress is on top of things.

1.Not prudent to pass a bill to provide medical care for the first responders to 9/11. Much to frivolous.

2. We must not coddle those out of work by expanding the unemployment benefits.

But boy oh boy they sure jumped on this one didn't they? And I would be willing to bet that most of Beltway Bozos have their own personal stash of....

9 votes

#13 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:21 PM EDT

Don't be silly. They're all too busy getting drunk.

5 votes

#13.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:06 PM EDT

billy-witchdoctor-com

Double jail time for those who would vote Democrat....I mean how else do you explain suppoting the Obama administration!

1 vote

#14 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:42 PM EDT

Randy McMurphy

Hey, panama red...I believe the word you are looking for is supporting, not suppoting.

1 vote

#14.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:28 PM EDT

billy-witchdoctor-com

yes go ahead pick on my disability...what are you a Democrat..or just hateful

#14.2 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:25 AM EDT

go ahead pick on my disability.

Bad spelling is a disability????

1 vote

#14.3 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:56 PM EDT

robertlyn-schultz

Yes, one of the symptoms of Dyslexia is bad spelling (Just one example)

Another would be someone suffering from the after effects of a stroke, or maybe a person just has shaky @!$%#ing hands... Well I Hope You Get The @!$%#ing Idea!

For someone who identifies with the "Caring and Feeling" side of the political bi-polar scale, you sure seem bereft of any compassion.

Supper @!$%#ing Weak angry left!

L8R

2 votes

#14.4 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:57 PM EDT

http://shop.nuance.com/store/nuanceus/Content/pbPage.DragonNaturallySpeaking11

There ya go....that will take care of all your typing problems.....disability solved.....

2 votes

#14.5 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:23 PM EDT

rock n roller

I can't believe these guys don't have anything better to vote on...this is pathetic.

5 votes

#15 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:53 PM EDT

Wag the dog, basically. They have absolutely no idea how to begin to solve REAL problems so it's better to make themselves look like heroes for being "tough on drugs" instead.

4 votes

#15.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:04 PM EDT

David-1830107

Progressives my ass.

#16 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:03 PM EDT

wbbtexas

Wow! I didn't know Feinstein had gone over to the Dark Side. What Happened to her? Has she been watching Fox News for a couple of years, secretly? Oh well....Another one bites the Dust.

Don't Crush that Dwarf...Hand Me the Pliars.

Someday. Someday, this will be a Sane Country. I keep telling myself. But there are days, like this one, where Only Blind Faith Works.

2 votes

#16.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:59 PM EDT

What Happened to her?

November is only 3 months away.

3 votes

#16.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:02 PM EDT

Patsy Schroeder was also very anti-drug. Politicians figure this is a way to earn, um, "brownie points" with the average voter...

#16.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:13 PM EDT

Progressives my ass.

DiFi was never a progressive, not even close.

1 vote

#16.4 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:01 AM EDT

If you have food coloring in your house you'll be charged with making pot brownies for kids; that's just the way the cops operate. I've seen people charged with paraphrenalia for having baggies in the kitchen drawer.

I've seen people arrested for having mushrooms from the grocery store in their kitchen. The charges were promptly dropped, but that didn't mean they got their kids back. We have an out of control, utterly corrupt Child Protective Services system in this country that makes the cops look like angels by comparison.

3 votes

#17 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:03 PM EDT

Wizeguy

the bill is ostensibly aimed at distributing drugs to people under the age of 18,

Get your undies unbunched..this is not a ban on pot brownies it's a ban on candy flavored crack. Alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana shouldn't be available to minors.

1 vote

#18 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:06 PM EDT

It is already illegal to seel drugs of any kind to kids, so how will this law make a difference?

If we really want to keep drugs out of the hands of kids then we need to legalize and regulate it in the same manner as alcohol. As soon as prohibition was repealed, the illegal booze trade was dead. If we did the same for drugs, we would stop the street corner drug dealers cold. They are the people who sell to kids.

6 votes

#18.1 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:22 PM EDT

Wizeguy

It is already illegal to seel drugs of any kind to kids, so how will this law make a difference?

It doubles the Penalty for pushing this (candy crack) poison on children, It doesn't stop anyone from smoking or eating medical marijuana.

The Headline is misleading and reeks with conjecture. Nothing is changing for the "legal" user of hemp products.

1 vote

#18.2 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:07 PM EDT

Wizeguy. So you think this law is operating under the assumption that people are hiding pot in sweets and giving them to children?

1 vote

#18.3 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:39 PM EDT

Again, I ask: how will this make any difference? The drug dealers are ignoring the laws already on the books. Why won't they just ignore this one too?

Feel good laws don't change things. That's what this is. And no, it won't just affect "crack candy." (Is there a sudden epidemic of candy makers adding crack to their recipes?). The language is vague enough to cover a lot of territory. Here's the typical story about "crack candy." Everyone I found made it clear this is candy made to look like crack, not crack being made into candy:

Crack Candy Delivery In Brooklyn Riles Up Neighbors

Aug 13, 2009 ... NEW YORK -- Brooklyn residents are riled over a performance artist who's been delivering bags of fake crack. The Daily News reported that ...

Feinstein makes no bones about her opposition to legalizing marijuana, which will probably happen in our November election. This is a ploy to make an end run around the wishes of our citizens.

3 votes

#18.4 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:41 PM EDT

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/scheduling.html

Here's information about this bill and what drugs are affected. As you read them, keep in mind that a user does not ingest crack. They smoke it, so the whole "crack candy" rationale is invalid just based on that.

S.258: Saving Kids From Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009 - U.S. ...

Official Summary
1/15/2009--Introduced.Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2009 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful for any adult (at least 18 years of age) to knowingly and intentionally manufacture, create, distribute, or dispense, or to possess with such intent, a Schedule I or II controlled substance that is:

(1) combined with a candy product;
(2) marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy product; or
(3) modified by flavoring or coloring with the intent to distribute, dispense, or sell it to a person under 21 years of age. Imposes enhanced criminal penalties for violations. Exempts any controlled substance that has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the drug approval process or that has been altered at the direction of a medical practitioner for a legitimate medical purpose.

Okay, so it covers all drugs under Schedule I or II. Here's the page that lists them all. Note that marijuana is under Schedule I:

Here's the DEA's position on medical uses of Schedule I drugs:

When it comes to a drug that is currently listed in schedule I, if it is undisputed that such drug has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and it is further undisputed that the drug has at least some potential for abuse sufficient to warrant control under the CSA, the drug must remain in schedule I. In such circumstances, placement of the drug in schedules II through V would conflict with the CSA since such drug would not meet the criterion of "a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." 21 USC 812(b).^[19]

From the Wikipedia page for Schedule I:

Sentences for first-time, non-violent offenders convicted of trafficking in Schedule I drugs can easily turn into de facto life sentences when multiple sales are prosecuted in one proceeding. See United States v. Angelos, 433 F.3d 738 (10th Cir. 2006) (55 years for three sales of marijuana).

2 votes

#18.5 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:34 PM EDT

El Kabong!

It's just eyewash, so she can look "tough on drugs".

1 vote

#18.6 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:39 AM EDT

Bootstraps

cradle to grave...cradle to grave

#19 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:09 PM EDT

HereAndGone

All I can say is THANK GOD

I've been wondering when our government was going to do something about this terrible threat to homeland security. They're way more important than minor issues like rising deficits, unemployment, terrorists, the wars, the economy, etc...

Those oh so gooey, sweet tasting, pot filled, feel good brownies are a threat to our very existence. And don't even get me started about the ones that have chunks of chocalate in them...

7 votes

#20 - Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:19 PM EDT

Has anyone asked Duncan Hines about this?

He's gonna be pissed.

2 votes

#20.1 - Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:07 AM EDT